Paulo Bento dismissed as UAE coach despite victory over North Korea

Paulo Bento lost his position as United Arab Emirates (UAE) coach in surprising circumstances — the dismissal came just 12 hours after his team secured a 2-1 victory over North Korea in Riyadh.

This decision adds to the list of coaching changes in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification Asia Zone — previously, Patrick Kluivert replaced Shin Tae-yong as Indonesia’s national team coach earlier this year.

The Portuguese coach’s dismissal came at a crucial moment, with UAE still in contention for World Cup qualification. The team sits four points behind Uzbekistan, who currently holds second place in Group A with 13 points.

With four matches remaining, UAE must quickly adapt under new leadership to keep their qualification hopes alive. The sudden managerial change raises questions about the team’s direction as they prepare for their next crucial fixtures.